Method of and means for scoring ice



Nov. 10,1925. 156L1 3 R. H. ROARK' METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR SCORING ICE Filed Feb. 9. 1924 5 Sh'eetsSheet 1 5 Q m N Q N N INVENTOR WITNESSES 1? e ROQI IL I ATTORNEY Ndv. -10, 1925.

I R. ,H. ROARK METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR SCORING ICE Filed Feb. 9, 1 4

5 SheetsQSheet 5 INVENTOR ATTO R N EY R. H. ROARK METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR SCORING ICE Nov 10 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb; 9, 192

INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESSES Nov. 10, 1925. r

. R. H. ROARK METHOD or AND MEANS FOR sconme ICE- Filed Feb. 9, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 6. ZZWQ, BY

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 10, 1925.

3 mens-mes ATENT .orricn.

nonnnir a. Roman, or wnco, TEXAS, nssrenon' T rnnrnocrron Ion sconmeu cnmn company, or wnco, 'rnxns, A conronnrxon or Texas.

Mn'rnonor Ann unnnsronsconme ICE.

Application and February a, 1924.; Serial in. 691,751.

To aZZ wh0m'it-may co'mzem: Y

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. Remix, 9. c1t1zen of the UnitedStates, residing at 6 of Texas, have invented a new and useful Method of and-Means for Scoring Ice, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the art ofscor-v mg ice, which is usuall manufactured in the" form of comparative y large. rectangular blocks, which must be separated into smaller pieces for the usual retail trade. I

The machine described herein embodies the essential features of the structure dieclosed in my application No. 584,07 5, of

which the present application is a continuation in part.

The invention has-for itsmain object the 1 provisionofa novel method and mechanism, whereby a block of ice may be scored longitudinally and transversely to define a plurality of units, any desired number of which may be easily broken ed by the retail dealer, the scoring not only facilitating the division of the block into smaller pieces which will be'uniform and marketable, but also insur ing the delivery of an accurately determined,

"amount without. requiring weighingj .A further object is the rpvision of amachine for this purpose w ch will ,be comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture -and'assemble,'.easy to control and operate, not lilg ely to getout of order, and

' a general improvement in the art. a Theinvent on embodies novel means for turning or tilting'flthe block ofice after. 1t has beenIscored in.one., direction, so that it "may pass between saws-for scoring in. another direction, I the entire -machin'e' being 4 powerdriven, and vconsequently positive in operation, ,andjthe tilting .mechanism for turning the block beingautomati'cally operated and thus requiring: no direct attention. ,To 'the attainment of the foregoing the 'ihvention" consists in the construction, com bination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, it being understood,- however, that the specific mechanism is merely an exemplification of a preferred structure and the right is reserved to make suchc anges as will increase. the utility. or adaptability of the device, and

to make all variations or modifications which will not depart from the salient features of the invention, or the scope of the appended- F claims. Waco, 1n the county of McLen'nan and State In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine.

' Figure 2 is a plan view thereof, with parts shown in section.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the machine.

F1 ure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line of Figure 3.

Flgure 5 IS a side elevation showing the tilting cage in discharge position with blocks of me about to enter between the respective sets of scoring saws.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5, showing the blocks or lce passing between the saws and the tiltin cage in position to receive the next block.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the rear part of the machine with the scoring cage partially tilted. p

Figure 8 is a horizontal section on the line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a transverse section on the line 99 of Figure 7. I

Fi re 10 is a detail viewof the chain attac ment for tiltin the cage.

Figure 11 is a detail view of the lever on the cage with which the chain attachment cooperates.- i

Figure 12 is a side elevation of a modified form of machine embodying my invention.

of longitudinal and transverse inain bars,

and any desired number of upright or other auxiliary bars which may be found neces- .sary to support the bearings and other elements of themechanism' At the bottom of the frame 10 is a longitudinaltrack or floor 11, over which the'blocks of ice A are guided while being scored. This floor extends from the entrance end 12 of the machine to a point approximately at the center of the macl'iine, and the block of ice lies on its side as it isconducted into the frame from any suitable conveyor or other means, not

shown. p

' J ournaled in suitable bearings at one side of the entrance and of the machine are v rtical shafts 13 and 14, which carry sprocket wheels 15 near their lower ends, about which is trained a feed chain 16, provided with one .or more/prongs or teeth 17, adapted'to engage against the. rear ends of successive track or floor 11 between guide rails 22', and

into engagement with scoring saws '23, secured. to vertical. shafts 24 at o posite sides of the machine. As represents in Figures 1 to 11, inclusive, the block of ice Ais con veyed i'ntothe machine in horizontal position. and is scored. centrally from end to end, but it will be obvious that additional scor-- ing sawsmay be provided if desired.

The shafts 24,] which carry the scoring saws 23, are driven by means of a transverse shaft 25, which is operatively connected to the shafts 24 by bevel gearing 26, within the respectivehousings 27. The transverse shaft 25 has a gear 28. secured thereto,which' is operatively connected by a toothed belt 29 to a gear 30, secured on the shaft 31 of a motor Mpof any suitable type. Suitable guards 32 are preferably provided for the saws 23. s

Located near the center of the machine is a tilting cage 33, which has one side and one end open and is adapted to receive the successive blocks of ice after they leave the scoring saws 23, and to tilt the same through an angle of approximately and todeliver them. to other scorin saws, whereby they may be scored at rig t angles to the first scoring. The tilting cage 33 is provided with trunnions 34, journaled in the sides of the frame, and one trunnion has a lever 35 secured thereto by means of which the cage is tilted. The location of the trunnions 34, with respect to the cage 33, is such that the cage has a normal tendency to rest by gravity in theposition shown in Figure 1, ready to receive a'block of ice asvit is delivered from the saws 23 by the chain 16. The lever 35 is actuated by means hereinafter described to tilt the ea c 33 after the block of ice has been delivers H tocbring the block of ice into position to be delivered to a track or floor 36, which is in the same horizontal plane with the track or floor 1'1, and between guide rails'3f'1', where it is carried into contact with the rear. scoring saws.

The means for'efi'ectin the tilting movement of the-cage 33' inclu es a shaft 38 jour-- thereto, so' as portion of'its length, asshown in Figure 10,

the pivot. pins 44, which connect the links of the chain, are*entended at one side and supports seriesoi links 45., which terminate at the forward end in a prong 46,'si1fiiciently -spacednfronrthe'sideof the chain 42 to form a seat withiii-which the upper end ot the lever35 itrecei'ved, 'as' shown in'Fi'gure 1. As theiforward travel of the .chain continues, therefore, the lever 35 is carried down- ;wardly, as'shown in Figures 7 and 5, until the cage 33 is tilted'through an angle of zip-- 'proximately '90, and the block of ice is deliver-ed in upright position. The cage is held in this position until the series of projecting pins 44 and links 45 pass away from the lever, and'permit the cage to be restored by gravity to its normal position, as shown in Figure 1. The ratioof the gearing which forms part of thetransmission mechanism is-important, asthemovement of the feed chain 16 and chain42 must have such a relation that the successive blocks of ice will be conducted properly through the machine, the blocks be ngl passed or forced by the chains 16 into t e cage 33 when the latter returns to horizontalv position after being tilted.

Rear feed; chains 47 are provided, "which have prongs 48 adapted to engage the block of ice as soon as the tilting movement is completed, and to carry the same rearwardly. These feed chains 47 also provide means for driving the shaft 21, being trained about sprocket Wheels 49 on said shaft, and about sprocket wheels 50 securedto a vertical shaft 51 atthe rear end ofthe machine; The shaft 51 is driven by a bevel gear 52 secured to its upper end, and in mesh with a bevel gear 53 securedto the end of a countershaft 54, which is driven by a spur gear 55, meshing with a pinion 56 secured to a transverse sl1aft 57. Theshaft 57 is provided centrally with a gear '58, which is being tilted, they are subjected to action by scoring-saws 60, any number of which may be. provided, on vertical shafts 61 arranged at opposite sides of the machine, and driven I by means of bevel gears 62-.secured to their upper ends, and in mesh with bevel driving gears 63, which arelsecured to the ends of means the transverse shaft. 57, within the housings with saws 70 mounted on shafts-71, which score the block transversely. The block is then delivered into the tilting cage 72, which is supported on. trfinnion's 7 3, to one of which is secured an upwardly extending lever arm 74. This lever arm is engageable at the proper time by a lug 75 carried by the chain 76, and the-course of the chain is such that the cage 72 is tilted through an angle of somewhat more than 909 to the position shown in dotted lines, and from that position the block is delivered onto the rearwardlyand downwardly inclined tracks 7 7, along which the block is carried by gravity.

. During this latter part of the course of the block through the machine, it is scored longitudinally by saws 78, which are secured'to shafts 7 9, which extend in an upward and rearward direction. The various instrumentalities may be driven in any convenient manner from the motor shaftSO. In the arrangement 'ofgearing, which is shown in Figure 12, as an example, the shafts 79 are connected by bevel gearing 81 to a shaft 82 extending transversely across the rear part of the machine, and driven by a belt 83, or the like, from a pulley 84 mounted on the shaft 80. The shaft'82 is connected by suitable belting 85 to the shaft 86, so as to drive the latter, and the saw shafts 71 are driven through the medium of a bevel gear connection 81 with the shaft 86. The shaft 68 The chain 76, which passes at its upper end over the sprocket wheel 90 mounted .on a transverse shaft 91, is positively driven from, and in timed relation with the shaft 69, the shaft 91 being provided with a bevel gear 92 which meshes with a bevel gear 93 score'or groove blocks of ice, both longitudinallyand transversely while they are car-' ried through the machine, the entire mechanism being driven automatically, and being positive in its operation. Attention is also called to the fact that ample means is provided. for shifting the block automatically riven from a transverse. shaft 88, conmeted as by belting 89 with the shaft 86.

same

from one position to another, during its progress'throughthe machine. This shifting means, as has been previously noted, is so constructed and arranged that it operates in timed relation with the feed chains, so that the tilting operation commences at the proper time after the blockof ice has been delivered to the cage. Owing to the simplicity of the construction, and the comparative fewness of parts, it is apparent that there is little to get outof order, so that the machine can be used economically for a long time.

It is obviousthat the machine may be an ranged so as to present the block of ice in horizontal position to the first set of saws,

and in vertical position to the second set of saws, as. shown in Figures 1 to 11, or the block of ice'may be scored in. the reverse order, as illustrated 111 Figure 12. The

block of ice may be positively conveyed by power means through its entire course through the machine, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 11, or the latter half of the movement of the block through the machine may be effected by gravity down an inclined plane, as shown in Figure 12, during which gravitational movement it is scored by the second set of saws 78. I

A particularly distinctive feature of this invention lies in the fact that the general course or direction of the block of ice through the machine is not changed, but it is carried in the same general direction while its position is altered, sothat the longitudi-- nail and transverse scoring are eifected'dur: ing the process.

What is claimed is: "l, The'herein described method which con sists in moving a block of ice and simultanea,

ously scoring the sides thereof in one direction, tilting the block in a vertical plane through an arc of substantiallyand subsequently moving the block and simul-,

taneous'ly scoring the sides thereof in a direction transverse to the first scoring. without changing the course of direct on of movement of said block.

2. The herein described method, which consists in movinga block of ice in one ,di-

rection and simultaneously scoring-the "sides thereof, tilting the block in a vertical plane to a position at approximately right angles to its former position, then moving the block in the changedposition, and simultaneously scoring the sides thereof transverse to the first scoring, the block being moved in the generaldirection throughout the operat-ion.

3. The her -'n described method which consists in moving a block of ice in one direction and simultaneousl5 scoring the sides thereof, tilting the bloclrto an upright position' through an arcof substantially .90",

and while in the upright position applying power driven means to the block topositively advance the block in the same genly advance the same and simultaneously Iscoringthe block in a'direction transverse to'the first scoring.

5. In an ice-scoring machine, the. combination with means -for feeding a block of ice and scoring it in one direction, means for re ceiving the block 9f ice from said scoring means, means for tilting theyblock of ice so as to change it to a ositionsubstantially at right angles to its rstposition, means for moving said block in its changed position in the same general direction, and means for scoring said block in a direction at right angles to the 'first scoring.

6. An ice-scoring machine comprising a pair of horizon-tally dis osed'rotating saws,

means for feeding a bliickv of ice between said saws," means for tiltin'g'the block in a vertical plane through an arc of substantiaL ly 90, other rotating saws between which the block passes after being tilted, and

means for movingsaid block between said other sawsin the same-general direction.

7. In an ice-scoring machine, two sets of rotary saws, andmeans between said sets 40 for tilting a'block of ice in a vertical plane from a horizontal tq-an upright position subsequent to its passage between one set of saws and prior-to its passage between the v other set, without changing eneraldi rection of movement of said bloc 8. In an ice-scoring machine, a guide track at the entrance end, horizontal rotary saws, means for feeding a block of ice along the track and between said saws, means fortilting the block in a vertical plane for turnmg it togan upright position, anda second set of horizontal saws between which the thereabove, means for conducting a block of ice along said guide means between the .saws, means for subsequently tilting the block through an, arc ofsubstantially 90, a horizontal guide track at the outlet end onto a which the block passes from the tilting means without changing its general direc at the entrance end, scoring saws above said guide means, a vtilting cage receiving the different position onto said ,o'uaa guide tion of movement, and a set of horizontal saws above said horizontal track between which the block passes.

10. In an 1ce-scoring machine, guide means at'the entrance end, scoring saws above said guide means, means for moving a block of ice along the guide means, a tilting cage receiving the block subsequent to its passa e between said saws, means for tilting said cage for turning the block through an arc of substantially 90, and scoring saws at the outlet end between which the block passes subsequent to being tilted.

11. In an ice-scoring machine, guide means guide means, means for feeding blocks of ice along the guides-between the saws, a tilting cage receiving the'successive blocks subsequent to their passage between said saws, means fortilting said cage at intervals for turning the blocks through an arc-of substantially scoring saws 'at the outlet end between-whichthe blocks pass subsequent to being tilted, and power driven means for feeding the blocks between the second named 90 sawsi-v 12. In'an'ice-scormg mach1ne,gu1de means at the entrance end, scoring saws abovesaid bilock subsequent to its passage between said saws, means for tilting said cage at intervals for turning the" block through an arc of substantially 90, scoring saws at the outlet end between which the block passes subsequent to being" ,til'ted, ower' operated means for feeding the block etween the first named saws and into the cage, and power driven means for engaging the block as the cage completes itsmovement, andfor feed iug said block between the second set of saws. 13. In an ice-scoring machine, guide means at the entrance end, horizontally rotary-saws thereabove, a tilting cage-havingone end and one side open, meansfor passing a block of ice between said saws andinto said cage, guide means at the outlet end, rotary saws above said outlet guide means, and means for tilting'the cage to discharge theblock in a means. I 14. .In an ice-scoringmachine, guide means at the entrance end, horizontal rotary saws thereabove, a tilting cage, means for passing a block ofice between said saws and into said cage, guide means at the outlet endjin the same horizontal plane withthe first men tioned guide means, rotary saws above said outlet guide means, -means for tilting the cage to discharge the block onto said outlet I guide means, and power driven. means for feeding the lilock between the second named saws. 4 1' 15. In an ice scoring machine, means for v scoring the ice in fo'ne direction, a tilting cage, means foriconducting theice from said scoring means into said cage, and means for tilting the cage, consisting of a lever carried thereby,'and a movable power driven element engaging the lever at a predetermined time.

16. In an ice-scoring machine, means for tilting frame normally in upright position,

means for conductingthe block of ice from the said scoring means into said frame, an

element carried by said frame, and tri means engageable with said element to ti t said frame with the block of ice therein.

18. In an ice-scoring machine,-two sets of' similarly arranged scoring saws, a tilting cage journaled between the sets and operating in a vertical plane, power driven feed means for passing a block of ice between one set of saws into the cage, a trip mechanism associated with the cage and driven in timed I relation to the feed meansfor tilting the cage to turn the block through an arc of substantially 90, and means for passing the block between the other set of saw-s.

19.; In an ice-scoring machine, guide means at the entrance end, rotary upright shafts carrying saws above said guide means, a tilting cage at the intermediate-portion of the machine, feed chains for passing a block of ice between said saws into the cage, guide -means at the outlet end of the machine, "shafts'arranged at right angles to said outlet guide means and extending upwardly, scorlng saws on said last named shafts, means for driving all of said shafts and said feed chain simultaneously, asprocket wheel driven from one of said shafts, a chain driven from said sprocket wheel carrying a lateral extension, and a lever on the cage in the path of'movement of said lateral extension, whereby the cage is tilted.

In'testimony that I claim the foregoing as I my' own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

ROBERT H. ROARK. 

